ONE LAST TIME . . . heroes of olympus

10.5

KATERINA TRIED TO hide, but the next afternoon she'd ran out of food.

Well, fuck me, she thought for the millionth time as she grabbed her wallet, phone, and keys before leaving her apartment.

But the cold air felt nice on her skin as she walked to the nearest grocery store, earbuds in her ears. She bought what food she'd need for the next week or so — pre-packaged salads, crackers, cheese, and meat to make charcuterie boards, and, of course, more wine. There wasn't enough wine in the world to satisfy her.

After blowing her money on wine, she got out of the grocery store and walked toward her apartment complex, her earbuds back in her ears as she rushed to get back inside her apartment before she got too comfortable with being outside. She just wanted to hide until January 2nd, when she'd go on another mission and forget that yesterday had happened.

The wine bottles clinked together in the bag, which made her think that as soon as she got to her apartment, she'd open one of them and succeed in forgetting yesterday had happened. She'd tried last night, but she'd run out of alcohol, so here she was. Suffering.

Eventually Katerina made it into the complex, where the receptionist pulled her into a conversation. She always had to bite back a laugh because they always addressed her by her fake name that she'd used to get this apartment so her mother wouldn't find her. And anyone who wanted revenge for her stealing something, or, you know. Ruining their lives.

After getting out of the conversation, she went up the elevator and to her apartment, opening the door and closing it behind her, humming the song that was playing under her breath as she put away her groceries. She taste tested some of the wine she brought, and, damn, she needed to get more bottles of these.

Then, weirdly, someone knocked on the door. She didn't think much of it, thinking someone had made a mistake when three rapt knocks pounded at the door.

Her hand was on her ruby pendant as she walked up to the door.

"Jules, I swear, I totally didn't do what you think I—" she opened the door and froze. Her mouth fell open before a warm, small hand gently prodded her chin.

"Don't let the flies in, Rina," Piper said, giving her a warm smile.

"How did you two find where I live?" asked Katerina. "Or . . . I guess stay's the better word."

Jason frowned. "Why does your breath smell like wine?"

"Why do you think?" she went to close the door. "Well, this was nice and all, but I've got better things to do."

The door was halfway closed when he stopped it. "Nope," he said firmly. "We're coming in."

To prove his point, Piper slipped past Katerina, walking into her apartment. Jason walked in behind Piper.

Katerina pinched the bridge of her nose. "Gods help me," she muttered, as if they've ever helped her with anything. Everything that's happened to her has either been a trainwreck or she's succeeded with masterful skill. What was happening right now was part of the former category.

She turned and closed the door, making her feet drag her to the kitchen counters so she could unpack the rest of her groceries, pretending like she was doing something when in reality her brain was going fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

"Your apartment is tiny," Piper walked out of Katerina's bedroom, dubiously glancing at her drinking more wine straight from the bottle. "And empty."

"Yeah, well . . . I don't stay here for long." She made herself close the bottle, shoving it in the wine cooler she had.